Luger Struggle

[Jack Package]

So I bought a Luger the other day my first Luger as well as my first handgun but that's besides the point. I have always loved Lugers and really want to add one of the old German war horses to my collection. When I was looking at the gun for the first time (from a dealer at a gun show) I found it odd there was no date stamped on the receiver. It did have a odd N with a crown stamp on it. The only stamp I knew of was the DMW crest. Anyway all the numbers except the magazine matched and the gun is in just immaculate condition so $1400 late I was the owner of a new (new to me) Luger. Well later that day I took the gun out to test fire it and was shocked when a 9mm cartridge would not chamber. Went through the mag and not would chamber. Now that's odd I though. So I checked the muzzle with a 9mm cartridge and the muzzle was way to small. Then I checked the muzzle with a 7.62 round and that's where the struggle began. I have a civilian post ww1 DMW Luger in 7.62 luger. Honestly I don't want the thing because call me a purist but I want what they had in the war. On the other hand it is a fine looking handgun and I have heard they are good shooters in 7.62 Luger. Now this is kind of my fault because when I bought it I didn't ask the guy for the caliber I just assumed it was 9mm. Anyway what would you guys do if yall where in my shoes? Sell the gun or keep it around for awhile. Thanks for any responses.

 

[Deanimator]

It did have a odd N with a crown stamp on it.

I'm pretty sure that's a proof mark.

 

[Speedo66]

Sounds like a nice one. If it's in your budget, find another, war model in 9mm this time, to add to your collection. They will only go up.....

 

[Deanimator]

You might want to watch this:

 

[Monac]

A long time ago, I read that the only mechanical difference between a 30 Luger and a 9mm Luger was the barrel, and that one could be converted to other by swapping barrels.

A) I have no idea of how true that is, if any. One place I read it was a gun parts company ad (Sarco?) that was selling 9mm barrels, so it was in their self-interest to claim it.

B) That is the kind of thing people did casually 40+ years ago that might be considered a travesty by collectors nowadays, and collectors are why that gun had a $1,400 price tag, so you want to keep them happy if you want to keep the resale value.

C) I have a couple of pistols (both Benelli B-76 types) in 30 Luger, and they are very pleasant to shoot. One of them is also very reliable (the other has a firing chamber that seems to be too tight). They are also significantly more expensive to shoot, and FMJ is all that is available. (I think Fiocchi offers a JSP load in 30 Luger, but i have never seen one.) OTOH, you may not be shooting anything but FMJ in a 9mm Luger, because they are notoriously finicky about ammunition.

D) East German re-work 9mm Lugers used to be reasonably priced shooter-Lugers, but I have no idea if they are still reasonably priced. I bought mine...20+ years ago? My gosh, I'm getting old fast. They are very distinctive looking to a Luger collectors, so most sellers will probably advertise them as such. They come with plastic grips, but new-made wooden grips used to be readily available. (PS - the sellers may call them "VOPO" Lugers, which I don't think is really accurate, but is convenient shorthand and also gives them a reason to raise the price.)

E) Stay away from the Mitchell stainless-steel Luger unless you want a 7-shot Luger that does not shoot to point of aim and jams a lot. They look nice, though.

 

[Dog Soldier]

I have many Lugers and Mauser C-96 pistols. The .30 Luger has ballistics close to the 7.62 X 23 Mauser. They are great for paper and fun shooting. My preference as with many Luger shooters is the excellent Mitchell SS 9MM Luger. These guns have great triggers and the front sights are regulated for the 124 grs bullets.

Some shooters.

 

[Monac]

I have many Lugers and Mauser C-96 pistols. The .30 Luger has ballistics close to the 7.62 X 23 Mauser. They are great for paper and fun shooting. My preference as with many Luger shooters is the excellent Mitchell SS 9MM Luger. These guns have great triggers and the front sights are regulated for the 124 grs bullets.

Well, I learn something new every day. BTW, I would say that ALL 9mm Lugers have the front sight regulated for 124 grain bullets, because that was the standard German military load.

 

[Acera]

You got a free warning. You got lucky, some guns will chamber a round that are not designed for, firing could result in disaster. Hopefully you will never let it happen again.



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[Dog Soldier]

The Luger was sighted for the 124 grs point blank. The arms was aimed at the enemies belt buckle. At close range the bullet struck say 18" high at a longer range 18" low. This allowed one hold out to 75 yards.
The original Mitchell-Aim manufacturing Houston, Texas were sighted dead on out to 50 yards. these pistols also incorporated the Maxium machine gun toggle as the orginal P-08. They must be fed high velocity 9MM ammo. The whim ammo will not operate the action.

 

[Chuck R.]

I have a 7.65 commercial Luger that's been in my family since before WW2. Mines a converted WW1 pistol.

Great gun, great cartridge really, pretty accurate, minimal recoil. I reload for mine since the commercial .30 Luger is kind of spendy. As others said you can have it re-barreled, and keep the .30 Luger barrel to convert it back later. Or try and sell/trade it. IF it was me I'd keep it, but I've already got one and have gone through the trail and error to load for it.

Chuck

 

[gopguy]

7.65 Luger is available. Aim Surplus stocks and ships it, though it appears they are currently out. Others have it too if you look around. I have used this ammo in mine with good luck, very accurate. Its hotter than some 9mm but no where near as hot as 7.63 Mauser or 7.62 Tokarev. .30 Luger is usually moving at about 1190 fps out of a four inch barrel.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=AP765PARA

 

[1911WB]

What you have is a 1920's Commercial Luger in .30 Luger caliber in what sounds to be very nice condition & matching. Don't mess with it or you may destroy its collector value! Get yourself a relatively inexpensive 9mm Luger "shooter" (perhaps mixed serial numbers, refinished, etc.) to satisfy your Luger shooting desires. That is the way I started; then I added other collector models as I went along. The WWII Mauser-made Lugers make particularly good shooters. WB

 

[Dog Soldier]

The .30 Luger can be very efficient when hand-loaded. I think you would really enjoy the Luger with custom loads. These are great investments. I would not alter any of my Lugers or Mauser C 96 handguns.

 

[Grayrock]

Thanks to several things coinciding I field stripped and cleaned my P-08. First was the article in this month's American Rifleman, then there was this thread,
and lastly, my brother called to borrow my Luger. He wants to use it to reverse engineer some part he wants to 3-D print for a client building some sort of gun. I got the gun from my father, who had it since I was born. I know since I have had it (10 plus years) and probably when he had it for the previous 50-something years that some of these internal parts never saw the light of day. It has not been shot all that much, but we haven't babied it either. For only cleaning it without disassembling it all these years it was pretty darn clean on the insides. That speaks to the fine fitting and the tight tolerances of its manufacture. Now I am no longer scared to field strip it (however, my Colt Match Target .22 is a different story...)

 

[Jim Watson]

Since the OP's gun is a purchase with no emotional attachment, I say he should trade it for a common military 9mm of similar condition and price. A little boot money will save him a lot of aggravation on the ammo and will get him the "war gun" he wanted to start with.

Me?
I might do something dumb, going in with my eyes open, if offered a .30 Luger. A .30 barrel for my SIG would be a temptation for sure.

 

[Gordon]

All my 9mm Military Lugers have been sold for good prices. I have a Model 1920 Commercial 3.9" barrel like yours and a 6" Swiss model both in 7.65. The 7.65 version seems to have much less "issues" in my long experience with Lugers. They certainly do not jam like 9mm are wont to, that necked case on the .30 version really feeds well. I shoot cast bullets in mine and they are tack drivers an super fun ! Almost recoiless !

 

[Jack Package]

After reading all the responses I think I am going to keep the little sucker. Its a good looking handgun with a story behind it plus my first handgun purchased. I will have to save up my money and get the military issue Luger later but for now the hunt begins for .30 Luger ammo thank you everyone for your responses

 

[Sunray]

An N with a crown is a commercial proof mark.
http://www.germandaggers.com/Gallery/GLP.php
Midway lists .30 Luger at a not unreasonable price of $23.99 per 50. Fiocchi and Prvi. Bit less at Graf's. Who also show Winchester at $63.59 per 50. $19.99 per 50 for Fiocchi 93 grain JSP.

 

[Rio Laxas]

A .30 barrel for my SIG would be a temptation for sure.

My P210-6 is in .30 Luger with an extra P210 Legend 9mm barrel fitted. While more expensive to shoot on a regular basis, .30 Luger is a fun round in the P210.

After reading all the responses I think I am going to keep the little sucker. Its a good looking handgun with a story behind it plus my first handgun purchased. I will have to save up my money and get the military issue Luger later but for now the hunt begins for .30 Luger ammo thank you everyone for your responses

I've been thinking off and on of getting a Swiss Luger in .30 Luger, so I think you are making the right choice by keeping it.

 

[gillmeister692]

You might want to watch this:

Deanimator--What an information-packed film. Thank you !!!

 

[MCMXIautomatic]

I would keep that gun if were you. I was surprised to find that Classicarms.com had some Fiocchi .30 Luger ammo for sale. Only $22/box. It seems to be selling out though! Here's a couple of links for you:

https://www.classicfirearms.com/fiochhi-30-luger-fmj-non-corrosive-50-rd-box
https://www.classicfirearms.com/fiochhi-30-luger-sjsp-non-corrosive-50-rd-box

I also have one of those commercial DWM Lugers in 7.65 parabellum. I don't shoot it much, though. It's a family heirloom that we've had for a long, long time. The story that my dad told me was that back in the 1920s, my great grandfather owned a small grocery store in Jacksonville, Illinois, and one day a man came in wanting to buy some groceries, but didn't have enough money to pay his bill. So he bartered with my great granddad and gave him the Luger for the groceries. And we've had it ever since.

 

[Deanimator]

Deanimator--What an information-packed film. Thank you !!!

You won't find anything not in print better than them and Ian at forgottenweapons.com.

I've been reading about military smallarms since before a lot of people here were born, and yet I learn something new from EVERY one of Othais' and May's videos.

 

[hdwhit]

Jack Package wrote:
Anyway what would you guys do if yall where in my shoes?

The gun sounds really nice. I wouldn't be able to part with it if I were you, so my suggestion is to keep the gun and take up reloading.

 

[Jim NE]

I would get some .30 ammo and enjoy the pistol, but I understand your historical interest in the gun. To me, the civilian gun still has historical interest, however. It should be a pretty salable weapon, I would think. Actually, you may want to hold off selling the gun until you get your 9mm ww2 version, and see which one you like best.

As far as your mistake, don't worry about it. Live and learn.

 

[Plastikosmd]

After reading all the responses I think I am going to keep the little sucker. Its a good looking handgun with a story behind it plus my first handgun purchased. I will have to save up my money and get the military issue Luger later but for now the hunt begins for .30 Luger ammo thank you everyone for your responses